Toby Kominek has been telling his two sons about his achievements on the baseball diamond for years. At times, the boys have been skeptical.

“They are starting to believe me more,” the Erie Mason graduate said. “When they were younger, I don’t think they trusted everything I told them.”

Kominek’s stories have been validated by Central Michigan University, which inducted him into its Athletic Hall of Fame. .

Kominek was a first-team All-American and the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 1995 after leading the Chippewas to their second consecutive MAC Tournament title and their second straight NCAA Regional berth.

The third baseman set school records for home runs (25), RBI (65), hits (86), extra-base hits (45), and total bases (185) that season. His home run, extra-base hits and total bases record still stand. His .877 slugging percentage and 71 runs in 1995 both rank as the second-best in CMU history.

He said one of his most memorable moments that season was hitting two home runs against the University of Toledo in front of a large group of family and friends from his hometown.

“That year is kind of a blur,” he said. “It went by so fast. We had so much fun and won a lot of games that year. I remember we won the MAC Tournament down at Bowling Green.

“The first game of the Regionals was at LSU and we drew the Friday night game against LSU. That was an amazing experience. Those fans were just out of control.”

Following his big year in 1995, Kominek was drafted in the sixth round by the Milwaukee Brewers.

He decided to forgo his senior year at CMU to turn pro.

“I always thought they drafted me because I could play in cold weather, then they stuck me in the hottest parts of the country for the next six years,” he said with a laugh.

Kominek started out in rookie ball in Helena, Mont., then finished that season in Beloit, Wisc.

He played the next two seasons with Stockton in the California League, then was promoted to AA El Paso the next year.

Kominek played in the Arizona Fall League after the 1998 season where his manager was Ken Griffey Sr.

After two seasons with Huntsville (Ala.) in the Southern League, Kominek asked for and was granted his release. He tried out with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but when they wanted to send him back to AA, he decided to retire.

“It was time to get a job,” he said.

Kominek hit .279 in six minor-league seasons with 71 home runs, 377 RBI and 90 stolen bases over 689 games and 2,448 at-bats.

The 44-year-old now serves as a national sales manager for Life Secure Insurance based in Brighton. That job takes him on trips all over the country, but he found time to assist Tom McGarry, his old high school coach, with Mason’s varsity baseball team for the past four seasons.

His oldest son Hunter graduated from Mason last spring and now is playing baseball at Jackson Community College.

His youngest son Lawson is a freshman at Mason this year.

Kominek is looking forward to the induction ceremonies tonight in Mount Pleasant.

“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s a great honor. I am really looking forward to reconnecting with some of the players I played with and our coaching staff. We’ll reminisce a little bit. I am really excited to take it all in.”

The induction ceremonies will take place at McGirk Arena at 7 p.m. The Class of 2017 will be introduced to Chippewa fans at halftime of the football game against Miami (Ohio) at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.